American students try making zongzi, a traditional food of the Dragon Boat Festival. [Photo/Nantong Daily]

A group of 47 students and teachers from South Pasadena High School in California, the United States visited Nantong from June 9 to 13 to experience traditional Chinese culture.

Their first stop was the Haohe River on June 10, when a dragon boat race took place in celebration of China's traditional Dragon Boat Festival.

American students try their hands at paper cutting. [Photo/Nantong Daily]

"I'm so excited today because my friends and I got to watch a dragon boat race," said an American student named Cleo, who never imagined she would get the chance to watch so many performances.

American students are curious about the tools used in a TCM store. [Photo/Nantong Daily]

The students had a busy five-day schedule. At the Traditional Chinese Medicine Museum, they tried acupuncture and made mosquito repellent sachets. At Blue Calico Museum, they tried making blue calico cloth after learning about the history behind it. At Nantong University, they were taught how to tear a dragon out of a piece of paper. At Jianghai Museum, they learned about the origin of Jianghai Culture

American students write Chinese characters with a brush. [Photo/Nantong Daily]

At Zhongnan High School, they learned martial arts and tai chi and painted masks for Nuo Opera. At Nantong Nord Anglia School, they showcased their talent by making Peking Opera masks and dumplings. They also learned about Ganoderma lucidum, a medicinal fungus, at China Ganoderma Lucidum Museum.

The American students and teachers were all grateful for the invitation and are excited to participate in more exchanges with their Chinese counterparts.